OFF AND RUNNING! WINNERS OF LA MESA SOAP BOX DERBY WILL BE SENT TO NATIONAL RACE IN AKRON

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Two East County youngsters, winners of the Drew Ford/Kiwanis Club of La Mesa 7th Annual Soap Box Derby on May 16, will compete in the All-American National Soap Box Derby in Akron, Ohio, in late July.

Bryce Taylor, 11, of Santee emerged as champion of the stock division. Super stock division champion was Hannah Lamb, 10, of El Cajon. The double-elimination derby was run down Junior High Drive next to La Mesa Middle School. Trophies were awarded for the top four finishers in each division:

Stock Champion - Bryce Taylor / Age 11 / Santee
Stock Second Place - Bryant Taylor / Age 9 / Santee
Stock Third Place - Cody Catron / Age 8 / Santee
Stock Fourth Place - Christen Miller / Age 10 / Lakeside

Super Stock Champion - Hannah Lamb / Age 10 / El Cajon
Super Stock Second Place - Michael Harris / Age 13 / El Cajon
Super Stock Third Place - Johnathan Frie / Age 11 / El Cajon
Super Stock Fourth Place - Tyler Spencer / Age 12 / El Cajon

“The La Mesa Kiwanis Club conducts two rally races each year in which the young race car drivers from throughout Southern California and Arizona can gain valuable experience, and the one annual local East County race where the club and our sponsors send each division winner and one parent to the nationals at Derby Downs in Akron,” said Derby Director Dennis Wilkes.

“Over these past seven years, the La Mesa Soap Box Derby has become established as one of the better run and most successful Soap Box programs in the nation,” he added. “Our club sees it as an important community service benefiting the children and families of our area.”

Sponsors include Drew Auto Center, Grossmont Escrow, Bill & Norma Verbeck, La Mesa Village Plaza, Gio Restaurant, and Duffet Construction.

Other sponsors are Bob Battenfield & Associates, Cosmos Coffee Café, East County Realty, EDCO, Grossmont Center, Infinity Real Estate Group, JK Painting & Sandblasting, Knight Financial Services, La Mesa Trolley Stop Deli, Loan Link, Minuteman Press, Old Highway 80, Pacific Car Company, Sanfilippo’s Pizza, Greg Schmock Tax & Bookkeeping Service, Walt Shaffer, Sign DeSign, US Concrete Precast Group, and Vanderblumen Publications.


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